Internal-combustion engine



Aug- 28, 1945. F. c. HAWKINS `2,383,648

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE `Filed July 19, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 @www I NTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINE @www Patented ug. 28, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE j INTERNAL-coMBUsTIoN ENGINE I Floyd C. Hawkins, Arcadia, (lialf. Application July 19, 1943, Serial No.`495,276 N 9 claims. `(01.123-56) This invention relates to an vinternal combus- 'tion engine and more particularly to such an engine of the two cycle type. It is a general object of the present invention to provide a simple,

. economical and improved engine of the type stated.

Internal combustion engines are commonly in which the cylinders can be located relative to` the crank shaft and also results in a leverage con*- dition between the piston and the crank shaft limited by the characteristics of a simple crank. Further, the control of the gaseous mixture in the ordinary two cycle engine is generally limited to ports in the cylinder and piston or to valveslocated at these parts. c

It is an object of my invention to provide an engine of the cylinder and piston type in which reciprocatory motion is converted to rotary motion by a crank shaft but whichpermits the crank shaft to be offset a substantial distance from the piston.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine of the character mentioned in which the cylinders'may be in opposed relation and the crank shaft offset from the line of the cylinders, making it possible to locate the center of gravity of the engine well below the axis of the crank shaft.

A further object of my invention is to provide an engine in which the gaseous mixture is controlled by a combination of ports in the cylinder and piston and a valve operated by the crank 1 shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine of the character mentioned with a novelA l of a typical engine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. view taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view taken at the carburetor showing certain parts in section, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the distributing valve provided by the invention.

My invention is particularly applicable to two cycle, multiple cylinder engines in which the cylinders are opposed, and in its preferred form the invention is applied to a construction in which the cylinders are arranged horizontally and the crank shaft offset vertically of the cylinder.

In accordance with the broader features of the invention the engine may involve various numbers of cylinders and they may be located in various positions and, therefore, I do not wish to The invention includes, generally, a main housl ing I0, opposed cylinders II at opposite ends of the housing, a piston I2 operable in each cylinder, connecting rods I3 extending from the pistons into the housing .where they are coupled together, a pivoted drive lever I4 in the housing, a crank shaft I5 carried by the housing, a connecting link I6 operatively connecting the lever I4 and crank shaft I5, a carburetor I'I, `a distributing valve I8 receiving the combustible mixture from the carburetor, manifolds I9 conducting the mixture fromthe valve AI8 tothe cylinders II, various ports in the cylinders and pistons controlling the flow of mixture from the inner or compression ends of the cylinders to the outer or working ends thereof, means 20 for lubricating the principal Working parts, and various other parts and features of construction common to engines of this general character.

The main` housing I0 is in the nature of ,a case formed so that its opposite ends 2I receive and carry the cylinders I I in opposed relation and in alignment with each other. v'Ihe bottom 22 of the housing is shaped to form a basin or reservoir for lubricating oil. The housing projects a substantial distance abovethe cylinder carrying portion where it has sides 23 providedwith bearings-24 for carrying the crank shaft I 5. The sides 23 also carry a pivot pin 25 at a point above the crank shaft I5, which pivot pin supports the drive lever I4. In practice it is to be understood that the housing i may be of sectional construction or may be provided with removable sections such as the section 26, to facilitate access to the interior of the housing or to facilitate assembly of the parts of the engine. In the particular'case illustrated the housing I0 is of simple construction and it is provided with legs or mounting brackets 2l to facilitate mounting the engine on a suitable support.

Each cylinder II is of the general construction found in internalcombustion engines. For in-V stanceit may be in the form of a casting .anged at its inner end to facilitate mounting on the housing I0 andkprovldedwith suitable means for cooling. In the case illustrated cooling fins 28 are provided on the cylinder to dissipate heat. The head 29 of the cylinder is provided with an opening to carry the usual spark plug 30.

In accordance with the present invention three fuel handling ports 3l, 32 and 33 are provided in the wall of the cylinder; the port 3I is adjacent the inner end of the cylinder, the port 33 is at the outer end of the cylinder, while the port 32 is an intermediate port located between the ports 3| and 33. A by-pass manifold 34 connects the ports 32 and 33. An exhaust port is provided in the side of the cylinder, preferably at a point around the cylinder opposite the ports above described. In practice a suitable exhaust; manifold 35 may be connected with the port 35.

Each cylinder is provided with a piston I2 which may be of simple construction involving a head 31 and a skirt 38. Inthe case illustrated compressing rings 39 are carried by the head 31 and an oil groove is also provided in the head. The skirt 38 of the piston slidably ts the cylinder and is of such length as to cover the port 32 when the pistons is at the outer or head end of its stroke. A port 42 is provided in the skirt 38 of the piston to register Vwith the port 32 when the piston is at the inner end of its stroke. The exhaust port v35 is located so that it ,is uncovered by the piston at a suitable time prior to the piston reaching the inner end of its stroke.

The relationship of the piston cylinder and the ports in these parts will be best understood lfrom examination of Fig. l of the drawings.

At the left in Fig. 1 the piston is shown at the outer end of its stroke where all of the ports are closed. The port 33 is not actually closed but the port 32 is closed and, therefore, there is no flow in either'direction through port 33. At the right in Fig. 1 the piston is shown at the inner end of its stroke, at which time the exhaust port is uncovered and the port 32 is uncovered so that there is communication from the interior of the piston to the interior of the cylinder above the piston through the port 32, manifold 34 and port 33.

Y The connecting rods I3 may be coupled or joined with the pistons in any suitable manner.

In the case illustrated the rods are shown threaded into the heads of the pistons and are shown slidably carried by sleeve bearings at the openings in the ends 2I of the housing. 'I'he rods mayecarry' sealing rings 45a to seal in the bearings '|651 The two connecting rods I3 are joined or coupled together in the housing I0 so that the two rods and the two pistons form a single rigid reciprocating unit. In the particular construction llustrated the rods I3 are threaded into a block or crosshead 41 which serves as a couplng.

'I'he pivoted drive lever I4 is pivotally supported in the housing I0 on the pivot pin 25. The pin 25 is carried between the sides 23 of the housing l0 and passes through a slot 49 in the upper end portion of the lever I4. The lower end of the lever I4 is pivotally connected to the cross head 41 by a pivot pin 50. Through this construction as the crosshead 41 is reciprocaed in the housing I0 the lever I4 is swung or oscillated about the pin 25. A stiffening web 25 is provided on the lever I4 to give it strength and rigidity. V

The crank shaft I5 has one .end portion 5I projecting from one side of the housing III and the other end 52 projecting from the opposite side of the housing. The latter end 52 is provided as the power take-off for the engine while the end 5I functions as will be hereinafter described. The offset portion or crank pin 53 of the crank shaft is located within the housing I0 and extends between the crank arms 54 on the shaft parts 5I and 52.

The connecting link I6 has one end pivotally connected to the crank pin and the other end pivotally connected to the lever I4 by pivot pin 55.

Through the mechanism just described the reciprocating motion of the crosshead 41 is converted to rotary motion of the crank shaft I5 through leverage which is advantageous and, in

practice, the stroke 0f the crosshead 41 may be fairly long while the parts can be proportioned so that the crank shaft throw is small.

In accordancewith my invention the carburetor I1 and distributing valve I8 are combined at the projecting end portion of the crank shaft tributing valvewhich may be formed by the end of the shaft which is provided with an axial bore A lateral port or duct B3 is provided at one side of the core of the Valve to cooperate with outlet ports 64 in the valve body 60. The ports S4 communicate with the manifolds I9 which join to opposite sides of the body 60 at the diametrically opposite ports 64 of the valve body 60. The manifolds extend to the ports 3I of the cylinders.

The parts of the distributing valve are so constructed and related that a combustible charge is delivered to the manifold I9 at the left in Fig. 1, While the piston in the left cylinder is moving out, but is cut off from the manifold at the right during that time. When the piston at the left moves in on the power stroke the distributing valve closes communication with the manifold of the left cylinder causing compression under the piston in the left cylinder, but the mixture is supplied to the manifold of the right cylinder so that it enters the right cylinder as its piston moves out.

A suitable magneto or electrical generator incorporating a timer, or the like, may b'e provided at 10 to be driven from the crank shaft, the timing being such as to actuate the spark plugs in proper timed relation to the reciprocation of the pistons in the cylinders.

sion and operate in cylinders Hb submerged in the oil in the housing. Pickup po'rts l2 are provided in the cylinders to admit oil into the cylinders. The plungers have longitudinal passages which communicate with a port 13 which conducts l oil through the crosshead to communicate with longitudinal ports 14 provided in the connecting understood, of course, that the distribution or handling of the lubricating oil from the ports 'I4 may vary as circumstances require.

From the foregoing vdescription it is believed that the operation of the engine will be readily understood. As a piston I2 moves outwardly in its cylinder the charge admitted to the head end of the cylinder is compressed while a fresh charge of fuel is admitted into the lower or inner end of the cylinder through the distributing valve and manifold I9. When the piston reaches the head end of the stroke the charge is compressed and ignition occurs. The piston is driven inwardly in the cylinder by the pressure of combustion during which time the previously admittedl charge under the piston is compressed and the force or work of the explosion is communicated by the piston rod I3 to the crosshead 4l. This work stroke continues until the exhaust port 35 is uncovered whereupon the gases of combustion escape through the manifold 3B, at which time the port 42 registers with the port 32 and the charge compressed under the piston is conducted by manifold 34 through port 33 into the head end of the cylinder.

The reciprocating motion imparted to the crosshead 4l is converted to rotary motion through the lever I4, link I6 and crank shaft I5, and the distributing valve I8 is operated in timed relationship with the other parts, as will be apparent from the foregoing description and from the drawings. As the crosshead sweeps baclnand forth in the oil held at the bottom of the housing oil is forced through the openings and ports in the crosshead to the ports 14 in the connecting rods from which it is-distributed to the points requiring lubricating.

Having described only a typical preferred form and applica-tion of my invention, I do not wish to lcylinder carried by the housing, a piston carried in rthe cylinder, means operatively connecting `the piston and crank shaft, there being ports in the cylinder and piston for controlling flow of a ,combustible charge from behind the piston to ahead of the piston, a carburetor supplying a combustible mixture to the said port, and a member cooperating with the crank shaft for controlling. admission of the mixture charge from the carburetor to the cylinder behind the piston.

2. An engine of the character described'including, a housing, a hollow crank shaft carried by the housing, a cylinder carried by the housing, a piston carried in the cylinder, means operatively connecting the piston and crank shaft, there being ports in the cylinder and piston for controlling .flow of a combustible charge from behind the piston to ahead of the piston, a carburetor, and a distributing valve means directly operated by the crank shaft for controlling admission of a charge from the carburetor to the .cylinder behind the piston the valve means including a port in the shaft supplied from the carburetor and a ported'valve body around the shaft cooperating with the ported portion thereof.

3. An engine of the character described including, a housing, a crank shaft carried by the housing, a cylinder carried by the housing, a piston carried in the cylinder, means operatively connecting the piston and crank shaft, there being ports in =the cylinder and piston for controlling ow of a combustible charge from behind the piston to ahead of the piston, a carburetor, and a distributing valve concentric with and operated by the crank shaft for controlling admission of a charge from the carburetor to .the cylinder behind the piston, said means including a pivoted levervlinked to the shaft and a connecting rod for operating the lever from its inner end connectedl with the rods, its outer posed relation from the ends of; the housing, pis- `tons in the cylinder, rods connected to the pistons and connected together in the housing to rigidly connect the pistons, means supplying a charge to the cylinders, a crank shaft carried by the housing oiset from the cylinders, and

means'whereby the shaft is operated from the rods including a lever slidably pivoted in the housing and oscillated by the rods, and a. link connecting the lever and shaft the link being connected to the lever intermediate its ends.

- 6. An engine of the character described including a housing, cylinders supported in opposed relation from theends of the housing, pistons inthe cylinder, rods connected to the pistons and connected together in the housing, means supplying a. charge to the cylinders, a crank shaft carried by the housing offset from the cylinders, and means whereby the shaft is operated from the rods including a lever having one end slidably pivotally supported in the hous-l ing and the other end pivotally connected to the rods, and a link pivoted to the lever between its ends and pivotally connected to fthepin of the crank shaft.

7. An engine of the character described including, a housing, cylinders supported in opposed relation from the ends of the housing, pistons in the cylinder, rods connected to the pistons and connected together in the housing, means supplying a. charge to the cylinders, a crank shaft carried by the housing offset from the cylinders, means whereby the. shaft; is operated from the rods, and a part projecting from the rods into the lower portion of the housing 'to catch oil contained therein and deliver it to ports in the rods.

8. An engine of the character described including, a housing, cylinders supported in opposed relation from the ends of the housing, pistons in the cylinders, rods connected to the pistons, a cross head rigidly connecting the rods together in the housing, means supplying 'a charge to lthe cylinders, a crank shaft carried by the housing offset from the cylinders, and

means whereby the shaft is operated from the -rods including a. lever having one end pivotally connected to the cross head, the other end slidably pivotally supported by the housing and its middle portion linked to the shaft.

9. An engine of the character described including, a housing, cylinders supported in opposed relation from the ends of the housing, pistons in the cylinders, rods connected to the pistons, a cross head connecting the rods together in the housing, means supplying a charge to lthe cylinders, a crank shaft carried by the housing oset from the cylinders, and m ans whereby the shaft is operated from the rcdsincluding a lever having one end slidably piv ted in the housing and the other end pivotally gonnected to the crosshead, and a link connecting the lever and shaft.

FLOYD C. HAWKINS. 

